Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2014
Source: Metro (London, CN ON)
Page: 3
Copyright: 2014 Free Daily News Group Inc.
Contact:  http://metronews.ca/London/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5477
Author: Scott Taylor

POLICE HELP KEEP LID ON ANNUAL POT CELEBRATION

Where there's no smoke, there's no fire. About 100 people roll up to
Victoria Park for peaceful, arrest-free '420' gathering

Police were out in force Sunday, but any trouble they expected went up
in smoke when the only person to light up a joint had a licence to
chill.

Twenty-one-year-old Travis Wright was quickly joined by two of
London's finest as the first few plumes of smoke escaped his lips, but
he was just as quick on the draw with a medicinal marijuana licence.

About 100 people, including a dozen or so cops, descended on Victoria
Park for the annual 420 celebration of marijuana and the right to smoke it.

As they did last year, police issued a warning that there would be
zero tolerance for any illegal behaviour.

In a news release, police said, "It is a criminal offence to possess
any amount of marijuana. The London Police Service will be present in
Victoria Park and a zero-tolerance approach will be taken. Anyone
found to be violating the law will be charged accordingly."

Activist Eric Shepperd said London is the only - or one of the few -
Canadian municipalities to charge those who smoke pot on April 20.

"It's a ridiculous waste of police resources and as a taxpayer I'm
offended," he said, adding he believes it's a foregone conclusion the
pot laws will soon be changed.

London police Sgt. Alex Garrett said the gathering was peaceful, and
no arrests were made.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D